brainstorm

name	brainstorm
description	Structured brainstorming for exploring new features or solving complex problems

Brainstorming Workflow

Run a structured divergent-to-convergent thinking process before diving into planning or implementation. Useful when exploring a new feature space or tackling a thorny architectural problem.

Steps

1. Frame & Pressure Test

Define the problem space, constraints, and desired outcomes, then rigorously challenge the premise:

• Problem: What are we trying to solve?
• Constraints: What technical, business, or timeline constraints exist?
• Success: What does a successful outcome look like?
• The Pressure Test:
  • Is this solving the real user problem, or a proxy for a more important one?
  • Are we duplicating something that already covers this?
  • What happens if we do nothing?
  • Is there a nearby framing that creates more user value without more carrying cost?

2. Diverge (Exploration)

Explore multiple, distinctly different approaches to solving the problem. Do not commit to one yet. Consider:

• The Idealist approach: If we had no constraints, how would we build this?
• The Pragmatist approach: What is the simplest, fastest way to get 80% of the value?
• The Pattern approach: How do the existing frameworks (Laravel, Nuxt) handle this natively?
• The 'Do Nothing' approach: Can we solve this without writing new code?

Note: The agent should list the pros/cons, feasibility, and risk for each approach.

3. Converge (Synthesis)

Evaluate the explored options against the constraints from Step 1.

• Identify patterns or hybrid approaches.
• Rank the options based on viability.
• Select a recommended approach.

4. Output

Generate a structured brief.

Write the output to docs/brainstorms/YYYY-MM-DD-[topic]-brainstorm.md.

Output Format

# Brainstorm: [Topic]

**Date:** YYYY-MM-DD
**Status:** Completed

## 1. Framing
- **Goal:** [brief]
- **Constraints:** [brief]

## 2. Exploration
[Summary of the 3-4 distinct approaches considered, with pros/cons]

## 3. Recommendation
**Chosen Approach:** [Name]
**Rationale:** [Why this won out]
**Rejected Alternatives:** [Why the others were dropped]

## 4. Open Questions
- [Any unknowns that need to be resolved during the Planning phase]

Rules

• Brainstorming MUST output a file to docs/brainstorms/. Do not just output text to the chat.
• The output file should be used as the origin: reference when subsequently running /lfg (Planning phase).